Paralympic champion Yip Pin Xiu wants to teach kids of all abilities to swim

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Qn:  To what extent is sporting achievement given adequate recognition in your society? (Cam. 2018)

TikTok is like China’s ‘Trojan horse’, says top US cyber official

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I bn mentioning Greek Mythology to some of you recently....here's a good use of 'Trojan Horse'....

Fourth service’s role is to foster co-existence between SAF and commercial sector: DIS chief

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private corporations already play a role – even a possibly decisive one – in today’s battles, pointing to the involvement of entities such as Microsoft and tycoon Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

SpaceX, which initially enabled Ukrainian forces to communicate through its network of Starlink satellites, decided in February to curb access after it determined that Kyiv had used its services to control drones used to attack Russian forces.

Businesses may make their decisions based on their conscience and shareholders’ concurrence, but governments and militaries need to be part of the conversation

Qns: 

1. 'Big companies are concerned only with profits.’ Is this a fair assessment? (RI Prelim 2022)

2. How far is it acceptable for technology to be used only for financial benefit? (Cam. 2012)

IOC and Olympic Games cannot be referees in political disputes, says Olympic chief

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the Games should stay away from politics, otherwise they would lose their uniting powers

Qn: 'Sport and politics should not mix.' Discuss.

Moderna boss defends Covid-19 vaccine price of more than $170 in US Senate hearing

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Qn: 'Big companies are concerned only with profits.’ Is this a fair assessment? (RI Prelim 2022)

Shoppers to pay 10 cents more for bottled, canned drinks from April 2025, with refund after recycling

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With the introduction of the beverage container return scheme, the collection of plastic bottles will hopefully increase tremendously to a significant extent so that it is economically viable to have our own plastic recycling plant in Singapore.”

Are traditional games and old building names part of Singapore’s heritage? Age may determine your answer

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For qns on heritage....

Local start-up launches animal-free cosmetics testing platform

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Compare this with meat culture in the lab.....potential for sci&tech to allow us to indulge in the pleasure of eating meat, and be assured of the safety of food and cosmetic products without the ethical concerns of subjecting animals to cruelty.....

the emerging field of “organ-on-chip” technologies, which seeks to model – on small chips made of plastic, glass or silicon – how human organs work. These could make testing for drugs, foods and cosmetics in the lab more accurate and efficient. In-vitro tests are performed in laboratories outside of human or animal bodies.

In Singapore, the use of animals for testing cosmetic products is not prohibited, but it is regulated by the Animals and Birds (Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes) Rules and the guidelines set by the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research.

Singapore, a biomedical sciences hub in Asia, is already home to the manufacturing plants of some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, including GSK, Pfizer and Amgen.

Qn: Can the use of animals for scientific research ever be justified? (Cam. 2017)

True beauty has no place for body-shaming ads

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The ad for its salons in Shanghai featured an orang utan juxtaposed against a fair-skinned model, both wearing similar dresses.

Ads can cause harm when they ignorantly perpetuate toxic beauty standards, and downplaying them as “humorous advertising” is tone-deaf to the complaints, if not downright irresponsible.

plastic surgeons in Singapore noticing a trend of patients going under the knife to look like the app-filtered versions of themselves.Online filters such as those on Instagram and Snapchat and popular image editing app Meitu can transform users into a “perfect” version of themselves 

On the extreme end, there are virtual influencers created by companies. They are essentially digital characters made by graphics software that pose as eerily realistic-looking, picture-perfect humans on the same platforms you and I use.

I fear I may one day fall down the rabbit hole of beauty treatments and plastic surgery in an effort to chase “perfection”. Everything I am exposed to can nibble away at my insecurities, and it can snowball.

For qns on humour; beauty; technology; advertisements.....

GPT-4 could turn work into a hyper-productive hellscape

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Powerful AI systems like GPT-4 are not going to replace large swathes of professional workers, as many have instinctively feared. But they will put them under greater pressure to be more productive and faster at what they do. They will raise the bar on what is considered acceptable output and usher in an era of ultra-efficiency unlike anything we have seen before.

That is what partly happened to professional translators and interpreters. As artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Google Translate and DeepL grew in popularity among business customers, many translators feared they would be replaced. Instead, they were expected to increase their output.

Much of this is typical of the march of technology. Smartphones allowed us to be connected to work at all times. Messaging app Slack allowed us to communicate with more people inside a company, more seamlessly. But such tools also kept us further chained to work, squeezing out minutes in the day that workers might have used in the past for contemplation, strategic thinking or just taking a breather.

Qn: Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

South Korean broadcaster accused of misogyny after editing Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar acceptance speech

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 interesting anecdote for opening/closing BANG on qns about censorship and gender discrimination.....

Michelle Yeoh: The crisis that changed my life 8 years ago keeps happening

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A good example of a celebrity leveraging her fame for a worthy cause....

AI not designed to take over decision-making from docs

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automation in terms of algorithms may eventually replace up to 80 per cent of doctors because big data combined with computational strength is more accurate and objective than the human mind.

It is not designed to take over decision-making from the doctors. Computers offer physicians a second option; the doctor must have the final say concerning a patient's treatment or medication. The computer's cognitive capabilities can assist medical practitioners. Such systems should be viewed as databanks which enable physicians to arrive at better decisions.

Qn: Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

AI to act as doctor’s second pair of eyes to spot nearly invisible colon cancer growths

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able to detect roughly 20 per cent more growths – or polyps – that doctors would otherwise miss with the human eye...The detection rate is expected to increase as the AI learns to recognise more polyps.

The AI also makes handling of numerous colonoscopy procedures in a day more manageable as it uses pattern recognition that spots polyps quickly and may even detect polyps that a doctor might miss due to fatigue

At Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the ability of AI in blood tests to diagnose leukaemia and malaria is also being tested. Radiologists in Hungary are also testing how AI can be used to help detect breast cancer.

Qn: Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

Are you a robot? How to be human in an AI-run world

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One of the strengths of AI is that it can de-bias decisions....Because you can open the box and see what the algorithm driving the AI is doing. The algorithm is basically a recipe.” That recipe can be changed. The AI can, if found to contain biases, be “sanitised”. It can be trained to pay attention to only what matters and ignore what does not.

whether it’s AlphaGo or ChatGPT or any other AI system, if it’s really good at something, it’s really good at only that thing. We’re still far from artificial general intelligence.

The point is, not to ignore AI or see it as a rival or enemy, but partner with it… When synthesisers were invented, it’s not like musicians went away. They found ways to express their creativity through interacting with synthesisers.”

So AI has normalised narcissism to the point that we’re not even aware of it, just as a fish doesn’t know what water is.

We must also rediscover serendipity, so much of which has been lost in the digital age, where algorithms guide us to the content they know we like. We can do this by injecting unpredictability into our consumption habits, ...by making choices that AI cannot predict. So, for instance, watch something that Netflix would never recommend to you, or listen to something Spotify doesn’t think you like, or consume news outside your filter bubble.

Qn: Has social media made us more self-absorbed? (VJC J2 WA1 2023)

Thai weatherman forecasts winds to blow away Bangkok’s unsafe dust clouds this weekend

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Relate to how neglect the environment can have repercussions on the economy and even health of nation....note the symbiotic relationship here btw environment and the economy.....The air pollution is driving away tourists and also potential foreign talent....Investor confidence might also take a hit (e.g. why would people buy property there if they dont want to live there, or if there are few people to rent it out to?)

Qn: In your society, how well are the demands of the economy and the environment balanced? (Cam. 2015)

Three arrested in Japan for ‘sushi terrorism’ pranks

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Recent furore about the 'sushi terrorism' that's been plaguing Japan.....Recall that Singapore also has or own version of 'supermarket terrorism' HERE

Relevant issues:

=ungracious society....recall Prof Tommy Koh's comment about Singapore being a first world country with third world people

=humour: when humour crosses the line....

Big powers choose convenient principles, small countries pay the price: Shanmugam

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A very good, insightful read, showing a more balanced and nuanced perspective on the Ukraine War...brings to mind the ancient saying, 'The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must' (Thucydides)

Responsibility for excessive plastic packaging should fall on retailers and producers

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Qn: 'Sustainable development is not sustainable'. Discuss.

Less work is making people more unhappy

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Qn: 'Workers today have never had it better.' Is this an accurate view? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

Robot ‘farmers’ in Australia help boost output and curb waste

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The robot rolls on tracks between the rows of berries, and has cameras that allow it to take photographs and determine if the berry is ready to be picked...Farmers believe such robots can be more effective at identifying and picking ripe fruit without causing bruising or damage, can potentially work faster than human pickers, and may be able to operate 24 hours a day.

“They’re not a replacement for your workforce, it’s more of a supplement for your capacity on your farm,...Obviously robots don’t get Covid-19, they don’t roll an ankle, they’re pretty reliable workers.”

Experts believe that robots will be able to address labour concerns and increase Australia’s agricultural output, while saving costs and ensuring that water and chemicals are used more efficiently.

robots will “replace tasks, not jobs”...“Automation will mean people can take on value-adding opportunities in their businesses and is a necessity in Australia where there is a shortage of labour

The robots can help to reduce the use of pesticides and fertiliser by applying the exact amounts needed, reducing costs as well as improving the farm’s environmental footprint.

Qns: 

1. Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

2. Examine the view that advancements in science and technology should always be for economic gain. (VJC J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023)

Robotic rescue boats to replace lifeguards at a popular lake in Hefei, China

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An aquatic robot has started its job as a lifeguard in Hefei, Anhui province, and it is expected to eventually replace dozens of human lifesavers..."In the future, most of the lifeguards will be replaced by the robot

Qn: Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023) 

5G-enabled robots to clean Singapore’s rivers, patrol streets and build Hyundai EVs

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The autonomous vessels also relieve boatmen of long hours under the sun and reduce the risk of man overboard, said IMDA. “This will transform the nature of the job scope, as a single operator stationed at the command centre can now pilot multiple electric vessels.”

Surveillance robots are being trialled in South Beach and will be rolled out in May, patrolling indoor and outdoor venues, to help plug the shortage of security manpower here, which can make it difficult for agencies to deal with security breaches....Security officers will be able to monitor multiple locations remotely, aided by video analytics that will alert them when a threat is detected

Qn: Will technology completely replace the role of humans in the future? (RI J2 Feb Timed Practice 2023)  

Recommended by New ‘tiny houses’ to open for short-term stays in Lazarus Island in April

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A local, your society eg on how tourism(or economic gains) does not always have to be at the expense of the environment....

Millennials loved libraries. But will their kids feel the same way?

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For qns on the relevance of libraries.....books vs technology issues.....etc

Qn: ‘As technological developments become more sophisticated, books play no role in learning.’ How far is this true of your society?

SIA to review customer feedback after paper serviceware trial sparks mixed reactions

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For the qn below, consider the point about how going the sustainability route may sometimes compromise the quality of the product or service rendered.....

several people said on the airline’s Facebook page that the move will diminish the airline’s image, rendering it equivalent to a budget airline. 

The new serviceware is made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper and will replace the current disposable plastic casserole dish that is covered with an aluminium foil. 

Based on the pictures, some passengers are unhappy about the prestige of SIA through their serviceware, which appears to be lacklustre compared to the pre-Covid era.” Single-use paperware can also create more wastage,

Qn: 'Sustainable development is not sustainable.' Discuss.

Singapore dream turned sour: How upgrading and a culture of getting ahead became corrosive

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embedded in the idea of the so-called Singapore Dream is intense interpersonal competition. Be the top student in school. Outbid other buyers for that home or car. Be No. 1 in your job. Such notions are inbred in Singaporeans. 

Individual winners may take the top prize but the overall society is worse off when everyone is forced to work too hard to attain even just a participation spot. 

 remains a big pay differential between those with and without a degree, with degree-holders earning 62 per cent more than diploma holders, and twice the amount that those with Institute of Technical Education qualifications make.

There is a tendency in many industralised countries to overvalue cognitive work over those who work with their hands or are in care work. In the 2020 book Head Hand Heart: The Struggle For Dignity And Status In The 21st Century, British writer David Goodhart warned about the over-reach of “cognitive meritocracy”, which has created a system he calls “peak head”. This places those with head skills (cognitive ability) above those with hand and heart skills (those in manual and caring jobs). The result is a lopsided system that over-rewards those with head skills, leaving those with hand and heart skills languishing behind in wages, status and respect, and feeling alienated.

The antidote for such a cognitive-based social system? To value hand and heart work as highly as head work, especially in how they are regarded socially, and to narrow the wage gap between head and other types of work. Narrowing this gap cannot be done by lowering wages for high-skilled cognitive talent, who are mobile and can move to where they are more valued. Instead, it is wages at the median and lower level that have to be levelled up.

This is precisely what Singapore is doing. The ongoing effort to roll out the Progressive Wage Model to more sectors (extended to the food services sector from Wednesday) will have a big impact on raising wages for many tradespeople. Longer term, the move must be to professionalise all jobs so they can be better paid...The antidote to undervaluing heart and hand work and overvaluing head work: Make sure every job is a well-paying job. 

Qn: To what extent should income equality be a goal in your society ? 

Step into Vincent van Gogh’s paintings at this immersive exhibition

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The experience takes away the traditional idea of art galleries and museums which could be intimidating to those unfamiliar with the art world.

“Instead, the experience reshapes the traditional idea of what a classic art gallery is and presents a means to learn about the life of van Gogh through storytelling and unique art representations

This 40-minute looped presentation relies on state-of-the-art video mapping technology, and is coupled with projections on the floor to create the impression of being enveloped in the art. 

its virtual reality (VR) component – a multi-sensory experience that takes the viewer through a 10-minute journey on a presentation called A Day In The Life Of The Artist In Arles – is “one-of-a-kind”.

This exhibition emphasises the influence of Japanese art and culture on the artist

For qns on the arts, technology....

Qns:

1. To what extent should the arts in your society focus on local rather than foreign talent? (Cam. 2015)

2. 'Nothing great can be achieved without teamwork'. What are your views on this?